Top 5 Eye Health Stories of 2017

The biggest eye health stories of 2017 ran from low-tech to high-tech and from super cool to super gross. New treatment possibilities were a feel-good favorite. But perennial eye dangers – and new threats – got the most attention.

Novel Gene Therapy Approved

The most recent eye news may turn out to be the most important of the year. The United Stated Food and Drug Administration just approved a gene therapy treatment for a blinding genetic condition called Leber congenital amaurosis. It’s amazing enough that this treatment could give vision back to the several thousand people in the U.S. who have this condition. But doctors and researchers are even more excited that this kind of treatment could be used in the future to help many more people with other, similar conditions.

New Dry Eye Treatment Device Available

Patients suffering from dry eye now have a completely new, drug-free alternative to lubricating eye drops and topical ointments. A new device was approved in the U.S. and is available by prescription to reduce the symptoms of dry eye disease. TrueTear is a handheld device that’s inserted into the nose and stimulates nerves there to produce tears. The reaction is like what occurs when you sneeze or cut into an onion. Think tickling your nose to fight dry eye sounds weird? Maybe, but patients testing the device were so pleased with the results, they refused to give it back.

27 Contact Lenses in Woman’s Eye

One of the more memorable stories of 2017 came from doctors in England, who found an unusual mass in a woman’s eye while they were prepping her for cataract surgery. It turned out to be a clump of 17 contact lenses caught under her upper eyelid. Nearby, they found another clump of 10 more lenses. It’s rare for someone to have more than one contact lens stuck in their eye because they would usually be uncomfortable. Doctors removed the lenses with no damage to the woman’s eye. This story highlights the importance of regular eye exams for contact lens wearers.

A recent study from England has found that people who have had cataract surgery have better mental function in later life. The report joins a growing body of research that suggests that taking care of vision has benefits for older adults beyond just improving sight.

A new study suggests that mindfulness meditation may help lower eye pressure in glaucoma patients and improve quality of life by lowering stress hormones. Patients who participated in meditation had lower eye pressure, a significant reduction in stress-related chemicals and…

Recent research suggests that dark chocolate can sharpen your vision, at least temporarily. Eating cocoa can enhanced availability of oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels of the eye and brain, sharpening vision.